Islamic Blog dealing with religious and worldly issues faced by the Muslims.

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Monday, 13 May 2013

Pak-India Relations- Pakistan's Foreign Policy Options

The
current geo-strategic perspective Pakistan has been set in offers Pakistan many
opportunities related to foreign policy options. If newly elected government- which
has wide-spread public support to deal with gigantic internal and external
issues- enables itself to cash on these opportunities, Pakistan would be put on
the right track to become a major regional power. But if these opportunities
are missed out for some other short-sighted economic and political
considerations, Pakistan would be a net loser.

Pakistan’s
geography has offered it great opportunities to emerge as a major economic and
political power in the regions of Central Asia and West Asia. In order to cash
on these opportunities, Pakistan would have to subordinate its relations with
India to these opportunities which need to be actualized by diverting Pak’s
import and export resources to these regions including China instead of
diverting such resources to India.

China’s oil demand is
continuously increasing and by the end of 2012 Chinese oil imports have
exceeded that of USA’s whose oil imports are declining due to recession and due
to greater home oil production. In 2013, China’s oil imports would reach 60% of
its total demand; this import rate would further grow in coming years due to
further depletion in China’s home resources. Presently China’s more than 50%
crude oil imports are coming from the Middle East. Gawadar is the shortest
possible route from Gulf Straits to China. That is why China while managing
this port would be interested to link it by road or railways to China.
Consequently Pakistan would become a vanguard to Chinese imports from the Gulf.

Similarly China is destined to
overtake soon Russia and USA as a dominating foreign power in Central Asia
politically as well as economically; China is investing a lot in Central Asian
economies. This policy is leading China and Central Asia to mutual dependence.
Pakistan also may connect Gawadar Port to Central Asian statesthrough roads or railways links through
Afghanistan so that Central Asian states may make use of Gawadar Port.

Thus Gawadar Port Project may
link closely economies of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Central Asia; this
mutual economic interdependence would lead to political cooperation as well.
Similarly Pak-Iran Gas Project would link closely both states economically and
politically, and such economic and political collaboration would strengthen
further the regional economic and political collaboration forged out of Gawadar
Port Project.

This likely regional economic
and political collaboration emerging out of these two projects may have far
reaching implications.

One implication is this
regional cooperation would enable Pakistan to come out of USA’s clutches
economically and politically. Once Pakistan gets out of USA’s influence and
adopts independent foreign policy, Pakistan may amass lot of political and
economic support using its geographical and nuclear status in the comity of
world nations.

Another implication is because
Middle East is becoming the greatest source of crude oil for China, this fact
is compelling China to assume greater role in the Middle East. Pakistan may
play its role to extend the likely regional cooperation to bring in its fold
the Middle East as well.

Another implication is that
Pakistan would be in stronger position to resolve its issues including Kashmir
with India. India would not be able to become a part of this likely regional
economic cooperation without Pakistan’s consent, thus giving Pakistan a leverage
in connection with resolution of mutual issues.

Another most important
implication is this futuristic Regional Cooperation scenario also determines basic
framework of Pak-India relations particularly economic relations. Pakistan
needs to divert its economic resources (imports+exports) to this futuristic
Regional Cooperation between Pak, China, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia, if
Pakistan wants to be a part of this Regional Cooperation and wants to cash on
the opportunities offered by this Regional Cooperation. It would mean this
Regional Cooperation block would be the first choice for Pakistan to employ its
economic resources into, and India would be secondary choice in this regard.
Such a scenario would favor Pakistan in another way too. If Pakistan employs major
chunk of its economic resources (imports+exports) into the Regional Cooperation states, Pakistan would be
free to exert maximum pressure on India to resolve mutual issues; but if
Pakistan employs a major chunk of its economic resources in India, Pakistan
would be obliged to come along India’s terms to settle mutual issues.

We may conclude that Pakistan’s
geography has presented Pakistan with great opportunities to emerge as a major
regional power in the Central Asia and West Asia. Pakistan would be able to
actualize these opportunities, if Pakistan adopts ‘Look Westward’ policy; such
a policy leads Pakistan to carve out a Regional Economic and Political
Cooperation with China, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran, and employ major
chunk of its economic resources into this Regional Cooperation. Later on West
Asia (Gulf States) may also be brought into fold of this Regional Cooperation. This
‘Look Westward’ policy would favor Pakistan in settling its mutual issues with
India.

If Pakistan adopts ‘Look
Eastward’ policy, Pakistan would miss out those glorious opportunities to
become a major regional power; such a policy makes Pakistan to employ major
chunk of its economic resources (imports+exports) into India. This ‘Look
Eastward’ policy would favor India and oblige Pakistan to resolve mutual issues
with India more on Indian terms.

1 comment:

I will consider the social, economic and political factors of Islamic options. Advancements in Islamic options can be linked to many areas. While it is becoming a hot topic for debate, spasmodically it returns to create a new passion amongst those who study its history. Crossing many cultural barriers it still draws remarks such as 'I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole' and 'i'd rather eat wasps' from the upper echelons of progressive service sector organizations, many of whom fail to comprehend the full scope of Islamic options. With the primary aim of demonstrating my considerable intellect I will now demonstrate the complexity of the many faceted issue that is Islamic options.